How would you have defended yourself if the student had a fully automatic AK-47 with a duffel bag of amunition?

2. Is A Tea Party In Your Future?

3. Would you vote for this person? ( A Pledge To America)

University of Texas Shooting/Suicide–Guns and Crime

1. Summary of Story and Timeline

a. Colton J. Tooley, 19, math

AK-47?

Most of the attacks on in “gun free zones”

Safe zones for those attacking or shooting?

Guns enable people to defend themselves.

Law biding citizens most harmed in zones or area where guns banned.

John Lott

2. Guns and Crime

What would have happened if the student began shooting in the library?

John Lott: More Guns, Less Crime book interview on CSPAN

Penn and Teller – Gun Free Zones

Penn & Teller on the 2nd Amendment

Penn and Teller – Gun Control and Columbine

2 million times per year people use guns defensively

500,000 guns used in crime

3. Concealed Carry on Campus

Should faulty, staff and student carry concealed guns on campus to defend themselves?

Background Articles and Videos

Concealed carry laws and a shooting at the U. Of Texas

“…The shooting triggered a massive police response and prompted school officials to cancel classes and close the campus. It also reignited an old debate in Texas — whether people with concealed handgun permits ought to be able to carry their handguns on state college and university campuses. Like many states, Texas prohibits concealed handgun holders from carrying their guns on campuses. Republican lawmakers and Republican Gov. Rick Perry have been unsuccessful in their efforts to rescind the ban.

Coincidentally, the shooting occurred on the day that conservative author John R. Lott, Jr., a proponent of concealed-handgun laws, was to speak at the University of Texas law school about crime and how it is affected by citizens who own guns and carry concealed handguns.

A research scientist at the University of Maryland, Lott wrote the book “More Guns, Less Crime: Understanding Crime and Gun Control Laws” – which the Wall Street Journal praised for “helping to redefine the argument over guns and gun control.”

Guns bans don’t deter crime, says Lott – an argument he made yesterday evening when speaking at a local book store, near where the first shots were fired, instead of at the university’s law school.

“Some places like the UT campus are targeted by gunmen because they know the potential victims won’t be armed,” Lott went onto tell more than 100 people — a crowd that Students for Concealed Carry on Campus Vice President Kory Zipperer told the Statesman was larger than expected.

“I think today’s situation shows why gun-free zones don’t work, because he was still able to carry a gun onto a gun-free zone and shoot,” Zipperer said. …”

Legal status of the AK-47

“…Semi-automatic and automatic rifles, including the AK-47, are often subject to special limitations on their use, purchase, import, and export. Based on the notion that such firearms are intended for military use rather than use for self-defense or hunting, legal limits are often placed on such weapons that limit their availability to semi-automatic models, limit the number of private individuals that may own them, and, in some cases, ban them altogether.

Private ownership of fully automatic AK-pattern rifles was regulated by the National Firearms Act (NFA) of 1934. The Gun Control Act of 1968 ceased the import of foreign-manufactured fully automatic firearms for civilian sales and possession.

United States

“…In 1986, an amendment to the Firearm Owners Protection Act stopped all future domestic manufacturing of fully automatic weapons for civilian use (non-military/non-LEO). Fully automatic weapons are still manufactured in the US for military and law enforcement use. However, automatic firearms manufactured domestically prior to 1986 or imported prior to 1968 may be transferred between civilians in accordance with federal, state and local law. A number of Soviet and PRC rifles were brought into the U.S. during the mid-1960s, when returning Vietnam veterans brought them home after capture from enemy troops. Some of these were properly registered during the amnesty period under the 1968 NFA law.

Semi-automatic AK-type rifles are legal and obtainable in most states of the United States, however they may or may not be legal to own or possess depending on state, county, city, and local laws and ordinances. Persons interested in owning one of these types of rifles are strongly encouraged to research the laws where they reside or plan to keep and use the weapon. The 1989 Semi-Automatic Rifle Import Ban (18 USC 925(d)(3)) and the 1994 Federal Assault Weapons Ban specifically banned the AK-47 by name, and many other such weapons (including obvious clones of AK-47’s) manufactured after 1994 had to be modified to the letter of the law (removal of barrel threading, bayonet lug and folding stock). This ban expired on September 13, 2004, as part of the law’s sunset provision, making all domestically produced semi-automatic AK-47s legal. The import of AK pattern rifles with certain features (ie. WASR rifles legally are imported with the low capacity single stack magazine) is still banned. However, certain states such as California, New York, New Jersey and Massachusetts have specific restrictions which effectively ban new purchases of many semi-automatic rifles, with some mentioning AK-pattern firearms by name. …”

Background Articles and Videos

Republican’s A Pledge To America

1. Play or read preable

2. Summary of Pledge

Background Articles and Videos

“Would you put up a sign in front of your house saying ‘This is a gun-free zone?” he told the Austin American-Statesman before delivering his lecture. “That makes no sense because it tells the criminal there’s not going to be any guns there. Yet we put signs like that up at our schools and universities. … There’s a tremendous advantage to having concealed-carry laws, because the shooter doesn’t know who has a weapon.”

Rifle Fire At the University of Texas at Austin Ends In Suicide of Student Shooter–No Other Fatalities Or Injuries

Colton J. Tooley, 19-year-old sophomore math major at the University of Texas, lived on Western Drive about ten miles south of the campus.

On Tuesday, September 28, Tooley dressed in a dark suit and wearing a ski mask went to the University of Texas campus.

There Tooley fired about 8 to 10 shoots in short bursts from an AK-47 rifle at about 8:10 a.m. outside of the Perry-Castaneda Library of the University of Texas in Austin, Texas .

Tooley then entered the Perry-Castaneda Library, proceeded via stairwell up to the sixth floor of the library where he fired several shots and then killed himself about 8:50 a.m.

Tooley graduated seventh in his 2009 class from Crockett High School. He was an excellent student in all subjects according to his high school teachers. He was considered a respectful and brilliant student.

Campus and city police responded to the reports of gun fire about 8:15 a.m.

Alarms and sirens were sounded at 8:25 a.m. and faculty, staff and students alerted by text messages and e-mail about the situation and to stay where they were located.

The University of Texas was locked down about 8:30 a.m., all classes and functions cancelled for the day, and the campus closed by University President Bill Powers.

Due to conflicting descriptions of the shooter, the police at first thought they were dealing with two shooters.

A search of buildings was started to find the possible second shooter.

No second shooter was found.

Campus police Chief Robert Dahlstrom said “We now believe there is no second suspect involved.”

Austin Police Chief Art Acevedo said the rifle used was an AK-47 and shots were fired outside the library in the street which is considered a second crime scene.

The campus-wide lock down was lifted just before noon, the campus reopened and classes will resume Wednesday.

The student shooter, Colton J. Tooley, who committed suicide, was the only fatality.

The rifle fire at the University of Texas brings back bad memories of the August 1, 1966 shootings by Charles Whitman from the observation deck of the administration building clock tower where he killed 16 and wounded 31 before being killed himself by the police.

Gunman Opens Fire at UT in Austin; No One Hurt

Timeline of UT shooting, 09-28-10

Police: UT Campus Remains on Lockdown

Official: 1 Dead in Shooting at Univ. of Texas

CNN: University of Texas shooting: View from dorm room

Shooting at University of Texas at Austin

CNN: Student reacts to UT at Austin shooting

News Update: Gunman opens fire on University of Texas campus

UT 9-28-10

Breaking News University of Texas Campus Shooting

What We Know About the Texas Campus Shooter

“…(Sept. 28) — Hours after the University of Texas was thrown into chaos and tragedy when a gunman attacked its Austin campus this morning — firing indiscriminately into the air before taking only his own life — the suspect has finally been identified as Colton J. Tooley, according to UT spokesman Don Hale. …”

It looks like he lived with his mother, Idalia Tooley (who names Colton as her only child on her Facebook page), and who ran a day care center out of the house, according to Austin Day Cares, a local database, which lists both her name and the address of the home. Surge Desk has reached out to the family but has not yet received a response.

He graduated from Crockett High School in 2009, My Fox New York reports. The website also carries his picture and the following statement from Craig Shapiro, principal of Crockett High:

“All of us in the Crockett High School community are shocked and saddened by today’s tragedy at the University of Texas. Our hearts go out to the family and friends of Colton Tooley. Colton, a 2009 Crockett graduate, was an excellent student, who excelled in every subject, and was ranked 7th in his class. His teachers recall him with words such as brilliant, meticulous, and respectful. Crockett High School will have additional counselors on campus, beginning Wednesday, to assist students and staff who request their services.” …”

Police on scene of shooting on UT campus

“…A gunman who fired several shots on the University of Texas campus in the Perry-Castaneda Library is dead of an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound, and police are looking for a possible second suspect, officials say.

Austin Police Chief Art Acevedo confirmed that the shooter is dead, but UT continues to be locked down, and people are urged to stay out of the area.

Officials say it appears there are no other injuries. UT spokeswoman Rhonda Weldon said witnesses had reported that the man was armed with an automatic weapon.

“The shooter is dead on the sixth floor of Perry-Castaneda Library, said Don Hale, a UT spokesman. “No identification. Apparently took his own life.”

“We don’t have any report of anybody getting shot at this point,” Hale said. Officials at University Medical Center Brackenridge have said they have not received any patients.

“It’s not clear yet” if there is a second suspect, Hale said shortly after 9 a.m., adding that the university’s advice to stay indoors and keep doors locked remains in force. …”

UT classes called off after shooting at library

By PEGGY FIKAC and R.G. RATCLIFFE

“…AUSTIN — University of Texas President Bill Powers cancelled classes for today and the campus was temporarily locked down after police said a man went into the Perry-Castañeda Library and shot and killed himself.Because of conflicting descriptions of the man and what weapon he was carrying, the campus was shut down as police searched for a possible second suspect. Authorities lifted the lockdown after noon.Police said they had identified an AK-47 and that they believed the man who died was dressed in black and wearing a ski mask. No details were given about the man’s identity or background.

“The armed suspect is dead. No other injuries have been reported,” Powers said in an email to students.

“I want you to know that the campus remains locked down. All students, faculty, staff and visitors should stay indoors and continue to follow instructions (from loudspeakers, email, text messages and uniformed police officers). You will be notified when the situation becomes stable.”

Austin Police Chief Art Acevedo said police were investigating two crime scenes — the one where he said a gunman killed himself and an area “where some other rounds were fired outdoors.”

Buildings also were being searched “to eliminate any possibility of any explosive ordinances that may have been left behind by one or more suspects,” Acevedo said.

He added, “Although there are reports of a second suspect, what we are doing right now is being methodical to eliminate a second suspect.”

University of Texas Chief of Police Robert Dahlstrom said there was no motive known at this time. Asked whether the man with the gun was dressed all in black and wearing a ski mask, Dahlstrom said, “I have not seen him. That is what I am aware of.”

Dahlstrom said officials hoped to open the north end of campus shortly but other areas would remained closed to allow searches to be conducted. The report of the armed man came in around 8 a.m., he said. …”

World — “What Starts Here Changes the World” — UT Austin

History Of AK-47

The Truth About AK-47 Firepower

The Truth about “Assault Weapons”

AK 47 vs M16

Tales of the Gun – The AK47 Assault Rifle 1/5

Tales of the Gun – The AK47 Assault Rifle 2/5

Tales of the Gun – The AK47 Assault Rifle 3/5

Tales of the Gun – The AK47 Assault Rifle 4/5

Tales of the Gun – The AK47 Assault Rifle 5/5

AK-47

“…The AK-47 is a selective-fire, gas-operated 7.62x39mm assault rifle, first developed in the Soviet Union by Mikhail Kalashnikov. The designation AK-47 stands for Kalashnikov Automatic Rifle, 1947 Model (Russian: Автомат Калашникова 47, tr. Avtomat Kalashnikova 47). It is officially known as Avtomat Kalashnikova (or simply ‘AK’). Also it is known as Kalashnikov or Russian jargon Kalash.Design work on the AK began in the last year of World War II (1944). After the war 1946, the AK-46 was presented for official military trials; and, in 1947, the fixed-stock version was introduced into service with select units of the Soviet Army. An early development of the design was the AKS-47 (S—Skladnoy or “folding”), which was equipped with an underfolding metal shoulder stock. In 1949, the AK-47 was officially accepted by the Soviet Armed Forces and used by the majority of the member states of the Warsaw Pact.

Firing the 7.62x39mm cartridge, the AK-47 produces significant wounding (including hydrostatic shock) when the projectile tumbles and fragments in tissue;[5] but it produces relatively minor wounds when the projectile exits before beginning to yaw.[6][7]

The original AK-47 was one of the first true assault rifles.[8][9] Even after seven decades—because of its durability, low production cost, and ease of use—the model and its variants remain the most widely used and popular assault rifles in the world. It has been manufactured in many countries and has seen service with regular armed forces as well as irregular, revolutionary and terrorist organizations, worldwide. The AK-47 was the basis for developing many other types of individual and crew-served firearms. More AK-type rifles have been produced than all other assault rifles combined.[2] …”

“…The main advantages of the Kalashnikov rifle are its simple design, fairly compact size and adaptation to mass production. It is inexpensive to manufacture, and easy to clean and maintain; its ruggedness and reliability are legendary.[24][25] The AK-47 was initially designed for ease of operation and repair by glove-wearing Soviet soldiers in Arctic conditions. The large gas piston, generous clearances between moving parts, and tapered cartridge case design allow the gun to endure large amounts of foreign matter and fouling without failing to cycle. This reliability comes at the cost of accuracy, as the looser tolerances do not allow for precision and consistency. Reflecting Soviet infantry doctrine of its time, the rifle is meant to be part of massed infantry fire, not long range engagements. The average service life of an AK-47 is 20 to 40 years depending on the conditions to which it has been exposed.[9]

The notched rear tangent iron sight is adjustable, and is calibrated in hundreds of meters. The front sight is a post adjustable for elevation in the field. Windage adjustment is done by the armory before issue. The battle setting places the round within a few centimeters above or below the point of aim out to about 250 meters (275 yd). This “point-blank range” setting allows the shooter to fire the gun at any close target without adjusting the sights. Longer settings are intended for area suppression. These settings mirror the Mosin-Nagant and SKS rifles which the AK-47 replaced. This eased transition and simplified training.

The prototype of the AK-47, the AK-46, had a separate fire selector and safety.[26] These were later combined in the production version to simplify the design. The fire selector acts as a dust cover for the charging handle raceway when placed on safe. This prevents intrusion of dust and other debris into the internal parts. The dust cover on the M16 rifle, in contrast, is not tied to the safety, and has to be manually closed.

The bore and chamber, as well as the gas piston and the interior of the gas cylinder, are generally chromium-plated. This plating dramatically increases the life of these parts by resisting corrosion and wear. This is particularly important, as most military-production ammunition (and virtually all ammunition produced by the Soviet Union and other Communist nations) during the 20th century contained potassium chlorate in the primers. On firing, this was converted to corrosive and hygroscopic potassium chloride which mandated frequent and thorough cleaning in order to prevent damage. Chrome plating of critical parts is now common on many modern military weapons.

The construction of the AK magazine is very robust with reinforced feed lips that contribute to the reliable functioning for which the design is noted. Most Yugoslavian and some East German AK magazines were made with cartridge followers that hold the bolt open when empty; however, most AK magazine followers allow the bolt to close when the magazine is empty.

Operating cycle

The gas-operated mechanism of an AK-47 (Chinese version)

To fire, the operator inserts a loaded magazine, moves the selector lever to the lowest position, pulls back and releases the charging handle, aims, and then pulls the trigger. In this setting, the firearm fires only once (semi-automatic), requiring the trigger to be released and depressed again for the next shot. With the selector in the middle position (full-automatic), the rifle continues to fire, automatically cycling fresh rounds into the chamber, until the magazine is exhausted or pressure is released from the trigger. As each bullet travels through the barrel, a portion of the gases expanding behind it is diverted into the gas tube above the barrel, where it impacts the gas piston. The piston, in turn, is driven backward, pushing the bolt carrier, which causes the bolt to move backwards, ejecting the spent round, and chambering a new round when the recoil spring pushes it back.[27] ...”

“…Charles Joseph Whitman (June 24, 1941 – August 1, 1966) was a student at the University of Texas at Austin and an ex-Marine who killed 14 people and wounded 32 others during a shooting rampage on and around the university’s campus on August 1, 1966.

Three of his victims were killed inside the University’s tower and ten killed from the 29th floor observation deck [1][2] of the University’s 307 foot administrative building; one died a week after the shooting from her wounds. The tower massacre happened shortly after Whitman murdered his wife and mother at their homes. He was shot and killed by Austin Police Officer Houston McCoy,[3][4][5] assisted by Austin Police Officer Ramiro Martinez.

Charles Whitman grew up in an upper-middle class family headed by a father who owned a successful plumbing contract business in Lake Worth, Florida. Whitman excelled at academics and was well liked by his peers and neighbors. There were underlying dysfunctional issues within the family that escalated in 1966, when his mother left his father and moved to Texas. The elder Whitman was an authoritarian who provided for his family, but demanded near perfection from all of them. He was also known to become physically and emotionally abusive.

Whitman’s frustrations with his dysfunctional family were complicated by abuse of amphetamines and health issues including headaches that he reported in one of his final notes as “tremendous.”[6] A glioblastoma, which is a highly cancerous brain tumor, was discovered during autopsy that experts on the “Connally Commission” concluded may have played a role in his actions. He was also affected by a court martial as a United States Marine, failings as a student at the University of Texas, ambitious personal expectations and psychotic features he expressed in his typewritten note left at 906 Jewell Street, Austin, Texas, dated both July 31, 1966 and later by hand “3 A.M., both dead August 1, 1966”.

Several months prior to the tragedy, he was summoned to Lake Worth, Florida to pick up his mother who was filing for divorce from his father. The stress caused by the break-up of the family became a dominant discussion between Whitman and a psychiatrist at the University of Texas Health Center on March 29, 1966.

Margaret Whitman, killed in her apartment

Kathy Whitman, killed while she slept

Edna Townsley, tower observation deck receptionist

Marguerite Lamport, killed by shotgun on tower stairs leading to the observation room inside the deck

Mark Gabour, killed by shotgun on tower stairs leading to the observation room inside the deck

Thomas Eckman, shoulder wound, kneeling over Claire Wilson, died on the mall

Robert Boyer, back wound, visiting physics professor

Thomas Ashton, chest wound, Peace Corps trainee

Thomas Karr, spine wound

Billy Speed, police officer, hit in the shoulder and traveled into the chest